Independent Self Starter

[KC5UX]

I tend to be the Independent, Self-Motivated sort who has always been a solo act. That fact makes me wonder if I'll make a good dive buddy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can become an acceptable buddy

 

[Spoon]

I tend to be the Independent, Self-Motivated sort who has always been a solo act. That fact makes me wonder if I'll make a good dive buddy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can become an acceptable buddy

by being aware of your safety as well as your buddy. be self conscious and make it a habit to know where your buddy is, what safety measures to employ and always practice safety drills with buddy on surface. This should be second nature after repeated dives.

 

[Ben_ca]

I tend to be the Independent, Self-Motivated sort who has always been a solo act. That fact makes me wonder if I'll make a good dive buddy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can become an acceptable buddy

Here's some reading for you:Doing It Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving

midway down.... Some good solid suggestions on how to dive as a team... if nothing else take heed on the gear... there's a lot of people who are sold on Back plate and wing BC's (BP&W)

 

[ScubaSixString]

I tend to be the Independent, Self-Motivated sort who has always been a solo act. That fact makes me wonder if I'll make a good dive buddy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can become an acceptable buddy

Remember you have a buddy. :blush: I got a bit target fixated on something, in low viz, with my buddy of lesser experience trailing me. He had a tank slip and i never noticed. Turned around and i was alone. As was he. Luckily we were shallow...i surfaced safely and found his bubbles.

That being said, if you are squared away, you'll tend to be a better buddy than someone who is likely to need help. Pre-Brief everything with your buddy before you dive, every dive. Then just dive your plan.

 

[TSandM]

Empathy.

Your profile says you are not yet certified. As you go through the certification process, think about the moments when you are uncertain, apprehensive, or downright scared. Remember those moments, and realize that your buddy may experience them, too.

Cultivate an attitude of responsibility . . . you are responsible for your buddy, even if your buddy has ten times your experience. You owe your buddy to stay where he/she can see you or touch you; to maintain some degree of surveillance so that you can recognize a problem before your buddy has to panic to get to you. You may be your buddy's one solid reference point in a world of poor viz; you may be your buddy's one hope of survival in a situation of no air.

I dove yesterday with a buddy who stayed at my shoulder all the time. We were in visual and tactile reach of one another ALL the time. I TOTALLY trusted this person to stay with me, no matter what interested him -- at the same time, I made the effort to keep up and stay shoulder to shoulder through the dive, to the best of my novice abilities. It was a relaxing and confidence-inspiring dive.

Aspire to being someone that someone like me is thrilled to dive with. You can be self-reliant and confident and all those things, and be a leader that someone like me is happy to follow. All you have to do is cultivate a bit of empathy.